The Haryana flood control board on Saturday approved 87 new projects worth Rs 127 crore for strengthening the flood control system in the state keeping in mind the upcoming monsoon season.

The Haryana flood control board on Saturday approved 87 new projects worth Rs 127 crore for strengthening the flood control system in the state keeping in mind the upcoming monsoon season.

The schemes were approved in the 46th meeting of the board which was held under the chairmanship of chief minister ML Khathar Friday evening, said an official release.

The board has also approved extension of the scheme of lining of Panipat drain upstream of the Ambala-Delhi railway line, added the release.

On the issue of construction of a dam on Yamuna in Yamunanagar by Uttar Pradesh, chief secretary DS Dhesi apprised Khattar that a meeting had been fixed with officers of the UP government in this regard in New Delhi on April 1.

Khattar directed the officials to ensure that all the drains in urban areas are cleaned by the local bodies and in rural areas by the irrigation department well before the start of monsoon so as to avoid the problem of waterlogging and stagnation.

He also directed the officials to carry out a detailed survey to explore the possibilities of tapping the excess water during the rainy season by constructing check dams in the Aravali and Shivalik areas.

Five works of public health and engineering department were also approved in the meeting. These were - laying of storm water drainage on Vidyapeeth Marg in Jind at a cost of Rs 37.70 lakh, construction of storm water drains at different places in Karnal at a cost of Rs 9 crore, construction of storm water and effluent drainage from sewage treatment plant of Karnal in Yamuna at a cost of Rs 25 crore, augmentation of existing storm water disposal works in Ambala city at a cost of about Rs 2 crore and improvment of storm water drainage in Ambala at a cost of Rs 54.55 lakh.

He also asked officials to carry out the desilting of rivers and canals so as to ensure the smooth flow of water during the monsoon season.